Shabbir a young student of knowledge had been thinking of ways he could help in the work of dawah whilst at the same time remaining engaged in his studies He finally got a great idea and yet it was so obvious he was amazed he overlooked it, So he went enthusiastically to his teacher Shaykh Saleem to present his idea; " Sir I have been considering as to how I can best help serve the deen, I have come up with an idea. If you let me I would like to transcribe your speeches and post them on the web. Better still I think that we should set up a website, that way we shall be able to benefit countless number of people and perhaps guide them towards the deen."
The Shaykh responded; " Oh young man have I not told you not to go near the internet, for within it is a great fitnah. You will end up losing both your deen and your dunya."
Shabbir disheartened by the Shaykh's strong reaction replied ; " Sir through the internet we can help spread the deen to thousand's if not millions, I only ask your permission for the sake of serving the deen. I am well aware of many immoral sites being present on the internet. I seek to establish an Islamic website. I do not wish to set up a site for dating or other immoral activities."
The Shaykh detecting the young man's disappointment said: " Shabbir I was just about to take my afternoon walk in the park, why don't you join me. and we can discuss this issue further."
As they walked through the park Shabbir was thinking of ways in which he could convince the Shaykh about the benefits of modern technology. The Shaykh broke the silence; "Why don't we go over and give our salaams to Tariq" he said: "Whose Tariq ?" enquired Shabbir, as the Shaykh walked briskly in the direction of some oak trees, Shabbir hurriedly chased after him as they got closer to the Oak trees he saw that beneath one of the Large oak trees was a wooden bench on it sat a homeless man holding a bottle of alchohol in his hands. He looked as if he had not had a bath in years, He was wearing jeans that were covered in dirt, and a t shirt that had the remnants of food attached to it.
The Shaykh went across and greeted Tariq and offered a few kind words to him. Tariq who was clearly drunk, seemed to be in a world of his own, he slurred as he spoke and very little of what he said could be comprehended, the shaykh promised to make dua for the drunk, and returned to join shabbir.
The Shaykh spoke " I see you did not go over to greet Tariq perhaps you think you are superior to him." "Excuse me sir but he is a useless drunk I mean how could anybody become like that, may Allah protect us from such people",replied Shabbir.
The Shaykh said;"What If I were to tell you that he was once one of my students, and not just an ordinary student he was perhaps the brightest I ever had." "He used to be a student of religious knowledge" exclaimed shabbir in surprise.
"Yes and let me tell you how he reached his present condition. about five years ago he came to me with the exact same proposal that you did today. He wanted to set up an Islamic website to help preach the deen. Normally I would have been quite apprehensive but was no ordinary student, he had an exceptional ability as a preacher. during his free time he would work tirelessly in helping the young men on the streets and many were guided due to his efforts.
So anyway he set up a website for Islam and it became very popular attracting,
alot of the youth Tariq would sympathetically deal with the problems of the young, and he was admired by many. I would periodically check with him as to how things were going. He would point to me the articles that were being posted on this website by young muslims. After several months I noticed something disturbing everytime I would sit with him. He would show me some articles that were posted on the website, the only problem was that the articles he was so enthusiastically speaking of were being posted by the same person a young muslimah.
I told him Tariq my son fear Allah and seek refuge from shaytaan for his whispers are penetrating your heart. Her articles are no better then the rest. It seems to me that the seeds from the disease of zina are growing in your heart. he got extremely angry and accused me of slandering him. I decided to shut down the site to protect the young muslims from his fitnah. Tariq out of anger stopped attending my weekly study circles.
I saw him some months later in the street he had shaved of his beard. He was now dressed in Jeans and other designer wear. zina had firmly been planted in his heart. He left his wife for another woman some months later the woman left him along with all his savings. He ended up heavily in debt and ended up living on the streets. Thus you see his condition today. So Shabbir I hope you will now understand my reasons for refusing your request. So my son never consider your self immune to this disease, protect your Imaan and engage in your studies.
Also you have to remember that Shaytaan has very subtle ways in corrupting the heart and planting the seeds of desire within it. In the real world the muslim might take strict measures in keeping his interaction with the opposite gender to a minimum. On the internet and especially it being an islamic site. He may become lax, the shaytaan will then play tricks with his mind. He may come across someone on the internet who is a complete opposite in manner and speech to his wife for example, he might find the persons personality attractive, he will start harboring thoughts about that person. Pretty soon if he does not control them, then his desires will be awakened and he will seek to satisfy them by the means of an illicit relationship."
So Shabbir seek refuge with Allah and stay away from such things."
Story written By Julaybib.
Inspired by a talk of Shaykh Kamaluddin Ahmed (db). Called Shaytans temptation of the Youth.
and an article I read on this exact issue, a real life story of a sister whose religious husband had started participating in Islamic forums to do dawah work and he ended up falling prey to the whisperings of shaytaan, and becoming heedless.
May Allah protect us all from falling into such heedlessness ameen[/QUOTE]
A local business man, came to Shaykh Saleem al Ashkabadi, and complained,
" Shaykh, I feel despondent! at the attitude of my siblings, and relatives. I have helped and assisted many of them with their livelihoods and careers. Yet none of them shows any appreciation and gratitude towards me. Even after I have bestowed many favours upon them, they still expect more from me, they are complete ingrates."
The Shaykh, replied; " My Brother, what gratitude do you show for Allah?, you expect others, to show gratitude towards you, for the favours you have bestowed upon them . I ask have you ever fully expressed gratitude towards Allah, for the numerous blessings and bounties that he has bestowed upon you.Even after Allah has bestowed, everything upon you of the dhuniya, do you still expect more from him, do you still show ungratefulness and ever think I have been deprived.?"
The buiness man, looked sheepishly at the Shaykh; and said; " No I don't think I have ever fully expressed, gratitude towards Allah, and I always look towards others who have more wealth and wordily success and often I feel like I have little in comparison."
"Then on what basis, do you expect gratitude and praise from others, when you yourself show little gratitude towards Allah almighty for his numerous blessings? ,My Brother repent to Allah, and ask him to instill the attitude of Gratefulness in your heart, for if you acquire this gift, you will achieve honour in both worlds."
Something to reflect.
It is strange, how we often fall out with others, because they were ungrateful for a favour we did them, If we do someone a small favour , we expect them to
remain in gratitude to us for life.
Even more strange is that, we can be surrounded by people who are facing poverty, hardship and numerous difficulties. Yet we will still focus on those who
have more wealth and comfort then us. we never look at those who have less, and express thanks to Allah for his blessings.
We do people a small favour and expect them to be grateful to us. Yet Allah has bestowed immeasurable favours on us and we never once truly express gratefulness.
The Scholars have stated that one of the main causes of depression is our lack of shukr (gratefulness), for if we truly appreciated the mountainous blessings of Allah. We would never feel despondent, or fall into despair.
May Allah bless us abundantly with the blessed gifts of sabr and Shukr, Ameen.[/QUOTE]
Why should I grieve because of a thorn?
Once it had made laughter known to me.
Whatever you lost through the stroke of destiny,
know it was to save you from adversity.
One small affliction keeps off greater afflictions;
one small loss prevents greater losses.
We often visit countless sites and read numerous articles, some become embedded others we soon forget. For some reason out of all the great articles,
by Imam Zahid Shakir, the following one has remained etched in my memory.
The Zaytuna Ruku tree
By Imam Zaid Shakir
Trees
“I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray,
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain,
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
In this, a great American poem, Joyce Kilmer captures the beauty, majesty, and awe to be found in one of God’s most intriguing creatures, the tree. One thing that intrigued Kilmer, and possibly all others who would take time to reflect on that marvelous creation, is the tree’s constant and intimate communion with God. As he states, “A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray.”
Before such a powerfully reverent creation, Kilmer can only sense his own inadequacy and weakness. We humans can produce wonderful, eloquent poetry, but what is a poem, which emerges from our frail quills; compared to the timeless wisdom embodied in a tree, a simple yet infinitely complex creation wrought the marvelous Hand of God.
Many of us here at Zaytuna have been awed by our own tree, the Zaytuna Ruku tree, that aging pine seemingly bowed by the travails of time into a reverent prayer position. That graceful bowing made her shade, her invigorating aroma, and for a legion of youthful climbers, her tempting branches, all the more accessible. Some of the greatest contemporary scholars of Islam have sat beneath her shade. Sacred knowledge has been conveyed under her vigilant watch. And from the safety of the refuge she represented, many have paused to watch as the winter rain gently caressed the green grass unfolding before her.
However, the reverent, bowing tree had not yet completed her life’s work, she had a final call to answer. God says in the Qur’an, The stars and the trees prostrate [unto Him]. Al-Qur’an 55:6 Observers of the Zaytuna Ruku tree over the years noticed that she was inching ever closer to her own prostration. Therefore, it should have come as no surprise when on a fateful, rainy winter night, she completed her devotion, prostrating totally to her Lord. Her majestic head nestled firmly upon the ground, her massive trunk oriented towards the prayer direction, her toes, partially uprooted curved beneath her. Her life’s work done, she is now gone.
Like Kilmer, whose mortality was highlighted by his tree, whose majesty served to alert him to the reality of an All-Powerful God, for many of us our tree served a similar purpose. Kilmer would die shortly after penning his poem, gunned down in the killing fields of France during the insanity of the First World War, having barely passed his twenty-second birthday. I am sure that the passing of our tree reminds many of us of our own mortality. There is no permanence in this lower abode. Perhaps it is not coincidental that the very chapter that mentions the prostration of the trees, also reminds us, All that is on the earth will perish. Al-Qur’an 55:26 Reminders of this fact surround us. However, who amongst us will take heed?
Have you not seen how God sets forth a parable? A good word is like a good tree whose roots are firm and whose branches reach heaven. It gives its fruit during every season, by leave of its Lord. And God sets forth parables to people that they may remember. Al-Qur’an 14: 24-25
Imam Zaid Shakir
03/02/2005
In 1998, Zaytuna Institute moved onto the property at 631 Jackson Street inheriting a rugged lot with piles of trash and a noticeably leaning Rolling Pine tree that was sickly and nearing its demise.
* Not long after the prayer and study of sacred knowledge began on the new property, that peculiar tree had been revived and was now standing strong, its branches flourishing with growth.
* Over time, as it stretched itself outward, offering more and more shade, its lean became unmistakably akin to the ruku position of the Muslim prayer. It became known as the “Ruku Tree”.
* After years and many months of progressively bowing lower and lower, in February of 2005, on a stormy and windy night it, as all Rolling Pine trees eventually do, fell prostrate on the Zaytuna lawn.
* Shortly after, it was removed, the wood kept for creative use. A new tree will be planted soon, insha'Allah.[/QUOTE]
Here is an article i read, and would like to share with all those undergoing difficulties.
Sick!Sick,Of Being Sick!
The fateful day finally arrived. The darkness of the hospital ward enveloped my shrivelled body as I lay aimlessly on the cardboard mattress. As the day squeezed out of the dreary night, the reality dawned upon me. While we sat in the cold conference room with Dr. Wokshire, the bitter truth broke from her lips like prayer beads from an old thread. "You have a mental illness, for life."
The rope to Allah hung there, loosely above me. Yet, spiritually, I became too weak to jump. For hours I thought, “How did other Muslims hold the guiding rope with firm grips? There are other Muslims who are ill, with trials storming about them! Yet, they managed to move on, to believe, to pray, to fast, give zakah, do Hajj, but who? Who are they? Where are they? What are they?” The pattern of thought became all too familiar until I held the belief that I was the only one suffering in an ever darkening cave.
I had become accustomed to complaining about my illness. Oh, the stress of my illness, oh the stress of taking medication, oh the stress of doctor appointments, oh the stress of remaining sane, oh the stress of stress! I had reached the bottom of the well and now I could only rise to the top. How I fell upon my knees as I knew my escape from the painful well was only with my Lord, with my Allah subhanahu watala who gave me this illness, challenged me with this illness, blessed me with this illness, The One who would cure me of this illness.
Ar-Raheem, The Most Merciful, recalled to me the mercies He had showered upon me, the mother’s silky touch upon my tangled mind, the brown eyes to see shimmering sunrises, the strong legs to perform sweet salah, the trays of exquisite breads and fruits for my delight, the infinite mercies.
Al-Mujeeb, The Responsive, answered my du’a and showed me the who, the where and the what. Alhumdulillah, He inspired me to open the Quran to the story of Prophet Ayub alayhi salaam in surah Al Anbiya (24:83-84). My fingers energetically followed the timeless words:
“And (remember) Ayub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: ‘Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy’” (24:83).
What distress had seized Ayub (Alayhi salaam) to utter such beautiful words? As I scrolled down to the commentary, I soon realized the answer to my question. The joyous tears, full of gratitude, fell from my brown eyes to water the dry plants of eman and quench the spiritual desert in my heart. I clutched the Quran to my beating heart and read on. Ayub (Alayhi salaam) had:
Been severely tested with illness and poverty, left alone and abandoned shunned by society around him. He suffered from sores that reached from head to foot.
But Allah recalls to him His mercies. With this in mind, Ayub alayhi salaam became humble. He takes humility, patience, and eman in Allah as his sword to fight and conquer evil. Allah restored him to prosperity with even more blessings and he lived happily ever after, but not as happy in Jannah.
By this time, my mind and heart, as one, danced with the ayah as we madly, deeply truly fell in love. I developed a relationship with Allah, the one who gave me, me, little old me this timeless treasure to cherish beyond time. To this day, the timeless treasure, the sign, the ayah hangs on my wall. My hungry eyes gaze at it and the eman rushes through my veins till it reaches my heart and mind until I can breathe and think again, until I can be conscious of Allah and His Mercies again. I read to my friend the ayah hanging on the wall to assure her that Allah gave me this jewel as a sign, that Alhumdulillah, I can take the ‘in’ out of insanity and gain sanity.
“What? Mental illness, me? I have a mental illness?” I thought. “Oh yes, that atom-sized illness with a nucleus that holds a proton-sized stress. Why make a fuss? After all, Allah created this illness and He created its cure. That’s why Alhumdulillah, Allah is treating the illness through my caring family, my intelligent doctors and the miraculous medication He gave me.
“Yes, my atom-sized illness is nothing compared to the cosmos of calamities and loathsome sores that befell Ayub alayhi salaam. He passed his test. He was the Muslim stormed with trials. He was the Muslim who still believed and held Allah’s rope with a mighty fist. I had found the who, the where, the what. Their soothing stories sang from the golden pages of the Al Quran as signs for the whole of mankind, for men and woman, for you and I. Alhumdulillah, I found the who, the where, the what because of Allah. I asked and Allah answered, after all He is Al-Mujeeb, The Responsive!”
Ya Mujeeb, let these words awaken our sleepless hearts and beat once again with the rhythm of your deen: Islam.
Author Unknown.
ameen...!
May Allah instil in our hearts Sabr Ameen.
“And (remember) Ayub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: ‘Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy’” (24:83)[/QUOTE]
May Allah bless the anonymous person who wrote the above article with complete Shifa so that no trace of their illness remains and grant them all that is good of the dhuniyah and akhirah ameen.
Shaykh Saleem al Ashkabadi, had a new member in his congregation, a young man in his early twenties. What was peculiar about this young man was despite signs of obvious poverty, and strained circumstances that could be gleaned from his attire, . He always had a smile on his face, and when he greeted someone the smile would turn into a broad grin. His cheerful disposition made him a popular member of the congregation.
One day Shaykh Saleem, asked him; " My brother, one can easily see that you are living in dire circumstances, yet I always see you smiling there is never a hint of a frown, nor a glint of sadness in your eyes. Tell me the secret behind your contentment."
The Young man, replied; " Sir I grew up in an orphanage, and underwent a very difficult childhood. Once I reached sixteen, I left the orphanage in search of wealth and fortune. However things did not turn out as I expected, I contracted Tuberculosis and ended up seriously ill, whatever money I had earned working as a laborer on a farm, went on medical expenses. Due to my illness, and lengthy stay in hospital I lost my job on the farm.
'I was broke and had no where to stay, at the same time, due to my illness I was very physically weak, and had no hope of finding employment as a laborer. So I ended sleeping on the streets mostly in the doorways of shops or whatever shelter I could find. For food I would scavenge through the garbage cans of restaurants. And this became my pitiful existence.
' Over the course of months the secret hopes I had entertained since I was a young child in the orphanage, of one day having a home and a family I could call my own slowly disappeared. My heart was shattered with grief and despair, I had not a single friend in the world, no one cared whether I lived or died. I fell into a deep depression.
' One day being overwhelmed with grief and feeling suicidal I entered a Masjid, and as I sat in a corner in a state of utter hopelessness, I heard some one approach me and as I looked up it was the elderly Muadhin. Who had arrived to give the adhaan he greeted me with a warm smile as he said;" As salaam Alaykum, My son." He shook my hand and proceeded to the minaret to give the call to Prayer. They say a smile makes a difference, and Allah knows best in his infinite wisdom, how great an impact the smile of this stranger had on my lonely heart. For it had been months since I had been greeted, with a smile.
Due to my unkempt appearance and wretched state , I had endured the taunts and looks of dismay from others. This simple and warm greeting accompanied by a smile, touched me deeply. I remembered being taught by one of my teachers in the orphanage, to greet a friend with a smile is an act of charity.
For months I had been depressed at my miserable existence, I had felt that I had nothing to offer the world. The smile of a stranger gave me a renewed sense of hope, and a sense of self respect, I told myself. " You can still make a difference, if it is only by greeting others with a smile. you still have something to offer the world."
'Since that day I have endeavored to greet everyone with a smile. You never know who maybe in need of it, and what impact a simple smile may have. And by the grace of Allah my circumstances changed. I have acquired a job washing dishes at a hotel, I get free food and lodgings."
Upon hearing the young mans story Shaykh Saleem al Ashkabadi wept he said.
" Young man, I have spent my entire life, in the pursuit of religious knowledge yet only today have I learnt the wisdom of following even the simplest of sunnahs such as this one of greeting a friend with a smile."
Written By Julaybib.
Something to ponder.
I remember reading along time ago, that a smile is an act of charity. I never quite understood, what is so special about a smile I thought , why has it been deemed an act of charity. Only a person who is going through a crisis or a life without smiles can truly appreciate the wisdom behind it. And all praise is for Allah that he rewards a believer for the simple act of greeting a friend with a smile, or for a husband smiling lovingly at his wife, and vice versa.
The smile Of the Beloved (Salallahu Alayhis Salaam), illuminated the heart of As Siddiq, By this smile Umar became Al Farooq, Uthman, al Ghani , Ali, al Murtaza. Mecca became honored and Medinah too. By this smile the desolate lands of Arabia became fertile. Hearts of the oppressed found solace in the smile of my Beloved (Salalllahu Alahis salaam), The Poor were enriched. the lonely where comforted. It was this smile that touched the soul of Bilal and gave him strength to endure the pain of torture with chants of " Ahad" "Ahad" .
May Allah give us all hidayah, especially a sinner and hypocrite like me ameen.[/QUOTE]
Sometimes try as we might we become overwhelmed by our problems and cannot help falling into despair. Here is a poem of Hafiz , that really strikes a cord with me!
Be Not Grieved
Joseph who was lost will come back again to Canaan; be not grieved.
One day the hut of sorrows will become a rose garden; be not grieved.
This saddened heart will change its state (for the better); do not make thy heart bad.
And this frenzied head will settle down again; be not grieved.
If the Springtime of Life will be back again on the garden’s throne,
thou wilt pull a canopy of roses over thy head; O sweetly singing bird, be not grieved.
O heart, if the torrent of troubles engulfs the foundation of existence,
when thou hast Noah for a captain, from the storm be not grieved.
If one day the spinning wheel (of fortune) did not run according to my wishes,
the state of revolving will not always be the same; be not grieved.
Come, do not despair when thou art not aware of the secret of the Unseen;
behind the veil there be hidden plays; be not grieved.
If thou wouldst walk in the desert with the desire of reaching the Ka‘bah,
if the thorn of the acacia hurts thee, be not grieved.
Though the stage of the journey be quite perilous, and the goal so far away,
there is no path that does not have an end; be not grieved.
My state is in the separation of souls and the persistence of the antagonist.
The Lord of the revolving state knows all; be not grieved.
Hâfiz, in the corner of spiritual poverty and the seclusion of the dark nights,
as long as thou art saying prayers and dhikr and studying the Qur’ân, be not grieved
And here is a different translation of the same poem.
Do not Grieve!
Do not grieve;
Joseph lost he returns to canaan,
The hut of sorrow turns to a rose garden,
Do not grieve,
This heart, mournful, it will heal
do not despair, this head frenzied, it will heal
Do not grieve.
Perchance heaven denies our desires for a day or two:
There is no constancy to the motion of time,
Do not grieve.
If the spring of life climbs the green throne of the meadow:
you, the song bird again will dance with rose,
Do not grieve.
Despair! who is privy to the mystery of the invisible?
Behind the curtain such hidden games,
Do not grieve!
When the rushing of the flood of doom slashes your life:
Noah is your captain in this gale'
Do not grieve.
In the barren desert in the delight of Kaaba and the thorn bush
sutures your feet in blame,
Do not grieve.
Oh the home is fraught with danger, destination void;
but there is not a single path no end,
Do not grieve.
Seperation of the beloved importuning of the rival:
all is known to the God of the universe,
Do not grieve.
Hafeez, in the depths of poverty ,engage zikr, pray in the darkness of night,
Your benediction from the koran,
Do not grieve.
Words of Wisdom From Behind Bars- Blessings and Trials
Note: Babar Ahmed was finally released from Prison a few months ago, after more then 10 years of unjust incarceration.
[QUOTE=Julaybib;]Salaam.
Carrying on from the same theme of Sabr in the Face of trials. Here is a thought provoking article by Babar Ahmed. May Allah keep him steadfast hasten his release, ameen.
Words of Wisdom From Behind Bars- Blessings and Trials 02/01/2005
“And Ayub (AS) when he called upon his Lord, ‘Verily, affliction has touched me and You are the Most Merciful.’” (Quran 21:83)
Out of all the prophets of Allah mentioned in the Quran, there is only one about whom no mention is made about his call, his dawah (propagation) or his followers: that prophet is Ayub (AS) known in English as ‘Job’. This begs the question: if the purpose of the prophets was to propagate Allah’s Message, what is the point of talking about a prophet without mentioning his dawah? The answer is that everything in the Quran is mentioned for a reason; nothing is redundant. Ayub’s (AS) story is mentioned because of his sabr (patience and steadfastness) and the lessons that we can derive from it. And what is the story of Prophet Ayub (AS)?
Allah blessed Ayub (AS) with health, wealth and children, then He decided to test him by taking it all from away him. His children died, his livestock died, his farmland was destroyed and he was afflicted with all sorts of diseases, including one in which insects would eat from lesions on his skin. As the years passed and he remained in this near-vegetative state, his relatives, friends and people eventually ostracised and abandoned him. They stopped visiting him for fear of catching his disease themselves. Even his wife, who would go out and work to earn a living for herself and her husband, was marginalised by the community who feared that what afflicted her and her husband, might also afflict them. Ayub (AS) nevertheless remained patient and thankful.
One day, his wife felt unable to take the strain and she cried out to him, “How long is this going to go on for? When is it going to end? Why don’t you ask your Lord to relieve our suffering?...” Upon hearing this, Ayub (AS) became filled with anger and he asked his wife: “How long did we enjoy Allah’s blessings for before this trial?”
“70 years,” she replied.
“And how long have we been tested by Allah like this?” Ayub asked her.
“Seven years,” she replied (other narrations put the figure at three or eighteen years, but the point is that it was far less than 70 years).
“If we enjoyed Allah’s blessing for 70 years and now He has tested us for only seven years, I am ashamed to go to my Lord and complain to Him. As for you, your iman has suffered so go and repent to Allah,” Ayub (AS) told her.
Eventually, as the story goes, Ayub (AS) made his famous supplication (which even then, was polite and indirect) mentioned in the Quran (21:83): “Verily, affliction has touched me and You are the Most Merciful.” Allah responded to his supplication and returned to him his health, wealth and children (by bringing them back to life) and on top of that, Allah blessed him with even more, due to his patience and gratitude.
O prisoner for the Sake of Allah, how long have you been in prison? One year? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years? And how many years did you enjoy Allah’s blessings? How many years were you free to walk the streets? How many years did you enjoy with your family and friends? How many years did you eat the tastiest of foods, drink the best of drinks and wear the finest of clothes? You will find that you enjoyed Allah’s blessings for a time much longer than you have spent in prison. How dare you then moan and complain to others about being in prison for the Sake of your Lord? Are you not ashamed to grumble to people about your situation? Have you already forgotten all those years in which you enjoyed Allah’s blessings? “Indeed man is ever oppressive and ungrateful.” (Quran 14:34). By the Lord of the Magnificent Throne, even if you were to spend 1000 years in solitary confinement for His Sake, it would not even pay Him back for the blessing of your thumb, which you use to eat, read, write, pick, grab, handle and inspect things everyday. In a narration, did the Prophet (Sallahu Alayhi Wasalam) not say, “If a man was to be dragged upon his face for the Sake of Allah, from the day he was born to the day he died, even then he would regret on the Day of Resurrection that he had not done enough good deeds.”
Be content with Allah’s decree upon you. It is when you consider everyday of your imprisonment as torture and punishment, and not as a blessing and mercy, that you will feel pain every second of it. If Prophet Ayub (AS) was ashamed even to ask his Lord to end his suffering, what gives you the right to complain to other people about your family and friends? Think of all the delicious foods you ate. Think of all the wonderful places you visited. Be grateful to Allah for those blessings and He will give you more of them: “If you are grateful, then I will surely increase for you (My blessings)…” (Quran 14:7)
If you wanted to make a comparison based on equality, you would at least wait in prison for the time equivalent to what you enjoyed outside prison, before asking Allah to relieve your situation. So, if you spent 30 years outside prison, you would at least want another 30 years IN prison before crying to Allah. But Allah is More Merciful than that. When you feel you cannot take it any more, complain to Him and Him alone, then wait patiently until he answers your supplication. Seek solace with the supplication of Yaqub (AS) over his son, Yusuf (AS), “Indeed I complain of my grief and sorrow only to Allah…” (Quran 12:86) __________________[/QUOTE]
'It is your origin that you were a dirty drop of semen and in the end you will become filthy carrion. During these two stages you are carrying in your body dirt and filth’
Source:Minhajul Abideen
Subhanallah, this makes one think why at times we can be prideful!
This applies to me too.
Shaykh Saleem Ashkabadi, started teaching classes for a couple of hours every weekend , to those wishing to learn Arabic.
After the first few, lessons the Shaykh, handed out a text book containing classical arabic Poetry, so that students could learn, the basic grammatical rules and the structuring of sentences.
A few days later, a 30 year old student came to the Shaykh and returned the book of poetry and said; " Shaykh I think I am too old to be learning Arabic, I just don't think a person can learn things when they get to a certain age, I think I would be better served pursuing other interests. This is just a waste of time for somebody my age."
The Shaykh looked at the 30 year old student and responded with a smile;
" Yes my Brother you are right, it is perhaps a waste of time, for somebody your age, in trying to learn new things."
A while later an elderly student who was 80 years old, came to visit the shaykh he said; " My son I just like to say how much I enjoy your lessons, and I find them mentally stimulating, fun and quite easy . I think it just shows that a person is never too old to learn new things, and can profit from his time by pursuing such beneficial interests."
The shaykh looked at the 80 year old student and responded with a smile; "Yes my Uncle you are right, a person no matter how old he is can profit from his time by seeking to learn new things, one is never too old to learn."
After the old man left somebody asked the shaykh the reasons behind his seemingly contradictory statements, to both of those students. " You agreed with the 30 year old man that he was too old, to learn new things, and you agreed with the elderly 80 year old man, that one is never too old to learn new things."
Shaykh Saleem al Ashkabadi responded, " They were both correct, the 30 year old man, thought it was impossible for him to learn at his age. I could
have argued with him, till I was blue in the face but he would not have changed his negative attitude. So for him attending arabic lessons would indeed be a waste of time. Whilst the elderly man had a positive attitude, he believed nothing is impossible to mentally accomplish no matter what your age. And he also spoke the truth I dont think their is any Mental task that would be impossible for him to accomplish.
The first steps to success, are accomplished in a persons mind. If someone thinks that anything is possible to accomplish , then his thoughts will become his reality. If on the other hand a man lacks belief, and thinks some task is difficult to accomplish, then he has already failed. try as he might unless he changes his attitude, then he will never achieve success."
Written By Julaybib.
Something to reflect.
How often in life we fail in our pursuits. Whether it is a college course, a career.
a health and fitness regime. We blame our circumstances, we rage with bitterness at everyone and anything, for our failure.
But if truth be told, we fail because we lacked self belief, we never showed the necessary commitment. We thought it would be easy, and when it dawns on us that it will require effort, we quit. And then we seek to make excuses for our failure.
I remember hearing Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq, give the example of arabic lessons. How people sign up thinking they will be masters at the language quick time , and when they realise the effort and years required. Slowly but surely majority drop out.
So in reality a persons steps towards success or failure begin in his own mind, his thoughts be they positive or negative become his reality.
May Allah bless us abundantly with the blessed gifts of sabr and shukr, especially a hypocrite and sinner like me, ameen.
P.S. I would like to humbly request you Duas, Insha'Allah.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=muslim forever;]Salaam,
Subhanallah its true….the origin of success or failure initially lies in ones mind, in his/her thoughts and then these thoughts are manifested through action. Therefore in essence we are what we think we are and all that we are was initiated and evolved from our thoughts (and also kismat of course)….
A Baldman was approached by a friend who asked; " My hair is also starting to fall out, please advise me of the best cure."
The Baldman replied; " Oh foolish one had I known of a cure I would never have been bald.."
Written By Julaybib
Something to Ponder.
Is it not strange that this is how we react when faced with problems
one who is suffering from obesity, approaches someone else
suffering from the same problem, to seek advice on weightloss.
Or one whose business is failing, approaches someone else, whose business is also failing, to discuss his problems.
The one whose undergoing marriage problems, approaches the one who had a bad marriage and has under gone divorce.
The one suffering from addictions to alcohol , drugs, zina. approaches someone who is also suffering from the same addictions to discuss his problems.
We rarely seek out the advice of those who have achieved success, rather we approach others who we feel will sympathise with us. Concerning spiritual diseases we discuss our problems with those who are also undergoing the same challenges. When we should infact be approaching the learned.
After all a sickman, who is suffering from an illness, does not approach a friend who will sympathise. Rather he approaches a Doctor who maybe able to advise a cure.
May Allah grant us the best of the Dhuniyah and the Akhira, and forgive us for our sins, especially a hypocrite like me ameen.[/QUOTE]
‘Arif billah Hadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed the seekers,
“Do not be slack in your effort of self-reformation (islah) till you die, as some of the ailments of self (nafs) take many years to be recognized.Strictly guard your eyes, ears and tongue (from the unlawful). These three organs are the source of of all worships and transgressions, including the inner praise worthy and blame worthy moral traits. It is of utmost importance to take appropriate care of them by using them in lawful and abstaining from prohibited.
However, (God forbid) when you slip (do not despair), repent immediately.”[/QUOTE]
Being thankful for the bounties of Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala).
[QUOTE=Julaybib;]Salaam
Being thankful for the bounties of Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala).
At the same time reflecting on our attitude in regards to them
Hakeemul-Ummat qaddas sirrahu says that reasons for loving someone are four;
Beauty (jamal)
Perfections (kamal)
Generosity (nawal)
Wealth (maal)
They are present to their maximum in Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala).
Here we are focusing on His generosity.
A cursory glance on the bounties that He is showering on us is a proof of this generosity.
Let’s take a look;
1. Being a living creature
2. Being a human
3. Having complete anatomical and physiological functioning of this human body that is, being free of all diseases. Healthy.
4. Life.
5. Time. Hours, minutes and seconds.
6. Being a Muslim
7. Being in the Ummah of our Master Prophet Mohammed salallaho alehey wa a’lihi wasalam 8. Association with Ulama-e-Haqq (Ahle Sunnah wal Jammah, Deoband)
9. Having the importance of following the religion
10. Aspiration of improving our self
11. Traversing the Path (sulook)
12. Being under the guidance of a perfect Sheikh (sheikh-e-kamil)
13. Education. Both religious and professional.
14. Job. Source of halal income.
15. Loving relatives; parents, spouse, children and others.
16. Well being of ourselves and these relatives
17. Housing & shelter
18. Means of transportation
19. Being free of worries
20. Opportunities of good actions
21. Being ashamed of our short comings and repenting
22. Basic necessities of living and moreover lots of luxuries
23. Wealth and savings
The list goes on and on.
What did we do to deserve these bounties in the first place?
By His infinite mercy Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala) gave us these gifts. We did not deserve them at all. There are many individuals far better then us who are deprived of these bounties.
What is our attitude in regards to them?
Most of us do not reflect on being the elite and gifted. We take these bounties for granted. We are usually not thankful & appreciative for them. And on the contrary we complain for minor deficits and worries. Majority of us in our ignorance are using these bounties to disobey Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala).
We have to allot few minutes each day for reflection (muraqaba).
Sit down after fajir or eisha and enumerate the blessings we have, one by one. Thanking Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala) for each of them, (Allahuma lakal Hamd wa lakash Shukkar). At the same time reflecting that we were unworthy of such gifts and it’s by His generosity and kindness that He bestowed them. And He has the power to take them away any time. This is the fist step towards real thankfulness.
The real thankfulness (shukkar) is not to use any of the bounties in disobeying Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'Ala) , as confirmed by Hazrat Junaid رحمة الله عليه
Har mooay badan bihi jo zaban ban kay karay shukkar
Kum hay bakhuda unki einayat say kum hay
I was thinking of something i read quite while back... it was some advice from a shaykh, a scholar of Islam, cant remember who it was, or which book i read it on, lol..
"If speech impresses you, then become silent..... if silence impresses you, then speak.."
This is one saying, that always sticks with me, and somehow, i always relate it to everyone i meet, its quite powerful and profound in our actions. If this advice was to be put into practice, we should all save our souls, hearts, tongues from going to the shores of pride, to the forests of arrogrance... Its natural, we feel 'pride' when we start talking, feeling and thinking we know so much, im so knowledgable, etc. When we start giving some nasiha, or when someone asks us a question, we answer it, then we carry on, then this sudden feeling, thought comes, concluding we are quite 'clever', getting a sense of pride. Sometimes, when we start talking, we get into such modes, were we feel we are always right and never wrong, or i should win and i will win, may Allah save us from such tribulations.
Same goes when we are silent, we get this 'fake' feeling of 'im so good' or that we are so 'special', 'i am not saying anything', or 'im better than those around me'.. so this saying will counter those situations. We all have these ills in our inner character, that we try to reform, and replace with what is good. Our nafs, our self is so devious, that even in our silence it tries to take it towards the bad, even when we are talking about Islam, our nafs takes us away and gives us thoughts of pride, riyaa, and many other more bad traits.
We should always watch our tongues, and we should always choose the option of 'silence' over everything, as our Beloved, Sallallahu alayhi wasallam taught us, this saying is a way to help us in our efforts to stop that bad trait that we all have; pride, arrogrance, even showing off (riyaa).. interesting... what we learn and what we value. As ulama teach us, if you practice what you know, then Allah will teach you, what you don't know... so lets start acting, putting what we know into action, rather than, read, and read non stop...
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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